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Real Presidential Facts

Published: Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 4:51 p.m.

The Constitution requires the president be at least 35 years old and a native-born citizen.

A president can serve only two four-year terms, a limitation imposed by the 22nd Amendment. Franklin Roosevelt was elected president four times; he served only 12 of the 16 years, dying shortly after beginning his fourth term.

President Obama is the 44th president, yet he is only the 43rd person to serve as president. Grover Cleveland served two terms interrupted by Benjamin Harrison's term; thus, Cleveland counts twice.

There have been two sets of father-son presidents: John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Two presidents were impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Neither was removed from office by the Senate.

William Henry Harrison served less than a month as president, a victim of pneumonia. Earlier, he gave the longest inaugural address: One hour 45 minutes long.

Four presidents were assassinated: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan were wounded in assassination attempts. Two attempts were made against Gerald Ford.

Gerald Ford is the only president not selected by the Electoral College. He was appointed Richard Nixon's vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned, then became president upon Nixon's resignation. Nixon is the only president to resign. Ford appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his vice president.

Eight presidents have been left-handed: James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. In the 2008 election, we were guaranteed a lefty as president, as GOP candidate Sen. John McCain also is left-handed.

<p>The Constitution requires the president be at least 35 years old and a native-born citizen.</p><p>A president can serve only two four-year terms, a limitation imposed by the 22nd Amendment. Franklin Roosevelt was elected president four times; he served only 12 of the 16 years, dying shortly after beginning his fourth term.</p><p>President Obama is the 44th president, yet he is only the 43rd person to serve as president. Grover Cleveland served two terms interrupted by Benjamin Harrison's term; thus, Cleveland counts twice.</p><p>There have been two sets of father-son presidents: John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.</p><p>Two presidents were impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Neither was removed from office by the Senate.</p><p>William Henry Harrison served less than a month as president, a victim of pneumonia. Earlier, he gave the longest inaugural address: One hour 45 minutes long.</p><p>Four presidents were assassinated: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan were wounded in assassination attempts. Two attempts were made against Gerald Ford.</p><p>Gerald Ford is the only president not selected by the Electoral College. He was appointed Richard Nixon's vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned, then became president upon Nixon's resignation. Nixon is the only president to resign. Ford appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his vice president.</p><p>Eight presidents have been left-handed: James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. In the 2008 election, we were guaranteed a lefty as president, as GOP candidate Sen. John McCain also is left-handed.</p>